Sansevieria×Dracaena plant named ‘SUDRASAN01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sansevieria parva×Dracaena godseffiana  cultivar named ‘SUDRASAN01’ is disclosed, characterized by unique foliage texture, colorations and shape, very short internodes, and highly compact plant form with dense foliage. The new variety is a  Sansevieria×Dracaena , typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Sansevieria parva×Dracaena godseffiana.

Variety denomination: ‘SUDRASAN01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a new cultivar of Sansevieria parva×Dracaena godseffiana. The new variety is the product of a planned breeding program. The new variety originated as a seedling from the open pollination of the unpatented, unnamed, proprietary seed parent Sansevieria parva with an unidentified, unpatented, proprietary pollen parent Dracaena godseffiana. The specific pollen variety is unconfirmed as the cross was made by means of an open pollination process in a nursery where several hybrids of Dracaena godseffiana were present. One of multiple proprietary, unnamed, unpatented Dracaena godseffiana hybrids could be the pollen parent. These aforementioned Dracaena godseffiana hybrids were created by the breeder and never commercially introduced or published and therefore do not have variety names. The cross resulting in ‘SUDRASAN01’ took place during October of 2003.

The new variety was first observed by the inventor, Thumrong Suphachadiwong, a citizen of Thailand, in 2005 as a seedling, resulting from the above crossing and subsequent planting of seed during 2004, in a research greenhouse belonging to the inventor in Chonburi, Thailand. After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor continued confidential testing and propagation of ‘SUDRASAN01’, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SUDRASAN01’ was first performed at a research greenhouse belonging to the inventor in Chonburi, Thailand by tip cuttings in 2005. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants were kept in a greenhouse belonging to the inventor, and not accessible to the public. Through subsequent propagation, more than 8 generations have been reproduced, which have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SUDRASAN01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SUDRASAN01.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SUDRASAN01’ as a new and distinct Sansevieria×Dracaena cultivar:

-   -   1. Very heavy branching from the base.     -   2. Many side shoots from the base.     -   3. Produces many leaves and has very short internodes unlike any         Dracaena godseffiana variety.     -   4. Compact grow habit, unlike other Dracaena godseffiana         variety.     -   5. Unique leaf texture unlike that of any Dracaena godseffiana         variety, leathery but not tough as leaves of Sansevieria parva         varieties.     -   6. Unique small yellow-golden spots on leaf.     -   7. The growth habit is unique as a whole.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUDRASAN01’ are similar to the seed parent, unpatented, unnamed, proprietary Sansevieria parva in most horticultural characteristics. However the new variety, ‘SUDRASAN01’ differs from seed parent in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. More heavily branched.     -   2. Leaves that are longer and not as thick or fleshy.     -   3. Bushier growth form.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUDRASAN01’ are similar to the potential but unconfirmed pollen parents, Dracaena godseffiana in most horticultural characteristics. However the new variety, ‘SUDRASAN01’ differs from potential pollen parents in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Heavier branching and much shorter internodes.     -   2. Far more compact plant form.     -   3. Golden yellow spots on leaves. Potential pollen parents have         variegated leaves with many small lemon-yellow areas.     -   4. Long slim pointy leaves compared to short oval leaves of         potential pollen parents.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

To the best of the inventor's knowledge, there is no similar Sansevieria parva×Dracaena godseffiana variety, however, ‘SUDRASAN01’ could perhaps be best compared with the unpatented commercial variety Dracaena godseffiana ‘Milky Way’ due to the somewhat similar spotting of the foliage. However the new variety, ‘SUDRASAN01’ differs from ‘Milky Way’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Foliage of the new variety has more spotted variegation, of a         different color.     -   2. Heavier branching and much shorter internodes.     -   3. Far more compact plant form.     -   4. Long slim pointy leaves compared to short oval leaves of         ‘Milky Way’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘SUDRASAN01’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands. The plant is 40 weeks old in a 17 cm circular pot.

The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SUDRASAN01’ plant bred in Chonburi, Thailand and hardened in a commercial greenhouse in Honselersdijk, the Netherlands. The plant is 40 weeks old in a 17 cm circular pot. Low temperature was approximately 18° C. high temperature was approximately 26° C. No photoperiodic or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Sansevieria parva×Dracaena godseffiana     ‘SUDRASAN01’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate rooting: About 4 weeks at approximately 18° to 26°     C. -   Root description: Not very thick, slightly fibrous, not fleshy,     young roots orange-white, near RHS 159A, older roots greyed-orange,     near RHS N167B.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Broad upright. -   Height: Approximately 41.0 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 52.0 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate, approximately 10 cm per month. -   Branching characteristics: Basal branching, moderately free; average     number of lateral stems: 7. -   Diameter of stem: Approximately 0.6 cm. -   Internode length: Average 0.5 cm. -   Texture of stem: Smooth, matte. -   Color of stem: Yellow-green, near RHS 152A and 150D, older stems     brown; near RHS N200A. -   Stem strength: Very strong. -   Number of leaves per stem: Average 24.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate (spirally).         -   Average length.—Approximately 24.2 cm (including sheath).         -   Average width.—Approximately 2.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Narrow lorate, carinate.         -   Aspect.—Leaves in an average angle of 40° to stem.         -   Apex.—Pungent; not sharp to the touch.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Attachment.—Sheathing.         -   Margin.—Entire, moderately undulate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, moderately glossy.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Green to yellow-green; near             RHS 143A and 144A, irregularly dotted yellow-green; near RHS             150B and 150C. Young foliage under side: Green; near RHS             143C, tip darker; near RHS 143A, irregularly dotted             yellow-green; near RHS 145B. Mature foliage upper side:             Green to yellow-green; in between near RHS N137A to 147A but             considerably darker, irregularly dotted yellow-green; near             RHS 150C. Mature foliage under side: Green; in between near             RHS 137B and 143A, irregularly dotted yellow-green; near RHS             150B.         -   Venation.—Type: Parallel. Color: Upperside: As leaf blade.             Underside: As leaf blade. -   Sheath:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green; near RHS 145D.         -   Texture.—Smooth, moderately glossy.         -   Other distinguishing characteristics.—Leaves relatively             thick (approximately 1 mm) and moderately leathery.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Flowering: Not observed to date. -   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the     normal diseases found in Sansevieria or Dracaena has been observed. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Moderately high drought     resistance, good heat resistance. -   Fruit/seed production: No fruits/seeds detected to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sansevieria parva×Dracaena godseffiana plant named ‘SUDRASAN01’ as herein illustrated and described. 